Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-09
RANDALL'S REJOINDERS.
ATTEMPTS TO REACH A MODUS VI
VENDI ON TARIFF REFORM.

An Argument for sthe Reduction of the
Internal Revenue Taxes-An Ohio
Towns Annexation Zeal-NIarriage of
Randairs Daughter - Indemnity for
Characterization Confirmed.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb 9-Representa-
tive Randall and several of his revenue re
form associates Tuesday addressed the fol-
lowing letter to Speaker Carlisle:
DEAR SIR: We regret exceedingly that
you could not see your way clear to give
recognition on yesterday to some Democrat
TO enable him to move to suspend the rules
for the purpose of giving the house an oppor-
tunity OF considering the question OF the total
repeal of the Internal revenue tax ON tobacco.
our refusal TO give this recognition, together
with your letter of the 9TH inst, deserve
more than passing notice. If two-thirds, or
more of the house are in favor of such re-
peal 1t was a grave responsibility fer you to
oppose such large majority of the repre-
sentatives of the people. Assuming, how
ever, for the sake of the argu-
ment, that the friends OF the
proposition constitute less number
than two-thirds, their strength is certainly
such that they ought to have been permitted
to test the sense of the house upon the ques-
tion especially since the country is watching
with intense interest the action of the house
in respect thereto, and the constituents of
large number of the members of the house
have been urging them to obtain, ii possible,
a consideration of this subject We do not
wish 20 be misunderstood We earnestly de
sired, from party standpoint, that recogn.-
ton should have been given to Democrat
to make the motion, but we would vote cheer
fully for the proposition, whether mad. by
Democrat or by a Republican.
We believed that the friends of the repeal
of the tobacco tax Were so strong IN the house
that we would save TO the oppressed taxpay-
ers OF this country an annual reduction of
taxation to the extent OF S2S. 600 019 il the
motion for repeal could be made in the house
on Monday CT this week, tine latest day when
such a motion, TO be effective under the rules,
would be in order during the Forty ninth
congress. The motion, if made during the
last SIX days of the session, would almost GER
tainiy be too late to secure favorable conSi..-
Grafton for TIE question IN the senate
We think that "A revision of the tariff and
of the internal revenue laws can b. attained
from time to time by reforming the obvious
and greater grievances OF the two systems.
and that We snouldnot refuse 10 mgk. such
reforms because sweeping changes have not
| to obtain from this congress relief FROM the
srievous burdens of taxation. Ii some of
Us can not get all we want, we should all
take what We can get Our single PROPOSE
ton for the repeal of the tax on tobacco was
not intended and can not fairly be construed
as intending to exclude from the considera-
ton of the hOuSt AL other measures for the
reduction of taxation We wished to obtain
| consideration for that proposition, but we
were not pressing for tie reduction Of the in
| teTnai revenue taxes IL the exclusion of other
| measures for the revision and reduction of
| the tariff
A Democratic caucus can not successfully
deal with the whole subject of revenue re
lucton' at this late stage Of the session.
| That suggestion comics too late If the eau
Gus could have controlled the legislation OF
| the Forty ninth congress from the beginning,
| the country might have been much better
! off. = The caucus ought not now to
| be invoked to justify policy of delay and
uou-uctlun on this subject
| We sincerely hope with you. that some
| plan may yet b. devised which will enable
! the house TO consider the whole subject of
revenue reduction and revision, in a
spIrlt Of fairness - all interests and in &c
| coriance with the letter and spirit OF the
| platform of the national Democratic party,
ldoptei Al the convention held at Chicago in
| TIE year Isl: ami we assure YOU that we are
ready to meet any Of our Demo ratio associ-
ltes who are prepared to treat with Us on
such basis. lSigned.
.IOTT s HENpERSO,